My Running

Well, I finally broke my 40min. 5k. It was just on my own run and not at a official race...but I feel good about achieving that BEFORE my next birthday. I ran 5k in 38:44 so it wasn't even a squeak by. Next race is in 16 days, the Lamont 5k. It's just a little local race and will not be chipped. Which just means the official time might not be real accurate. My new goal now is to get down to a 12min mile pace, which is a whooping 5mph. Since I've been using my Nike + GPS (one month) I have tracked over 36 miles. That's kind of cool. I'm actually getting to the place where I enjoy the run (well, at least most of the way). But sharing this experience with my husband and with friends (especially Jen) has been the biggest blessing of all.

Breathe

Today was our last session for Morning bible study. We have been studying the life of Jonah, with a study written by Priscilla Shirer. This has been a fabulous study. But that's not what is on my heart right now...

We have mostly young mothers of small children and infants that attend this morning study. For the most part, they are home all day with their little ones. This study is vitally important to their emotional well-being! Some moms come in dressed like they are going out on a date. The reason being, it's the first time all week that they are out of the house. Some moms come in looking bedraggled, tired and barely put together. We've all been there. But the one thing they all have in common? They drop those beautiful-loves-of-their-lives into the nursery, collapse into the chair in the bible study room and breathe. For two entire hours no one is asking for anything, they sit soaking it all in. They laugh and cry with their girlfriends around them. They learn more about Jesus Christ and more about their relationship with Him. What makes this time even possible?

Nursery Caregivers.

Finding people to help in the Nursery has been the biggest burden of anything that God has put in front of me. When it's time to begin the planning of each Bible Study, I cry out to God. Is this really what you want? I can't do this again. I can't get the nursery filled. I don't know what else to do.

Today, one of the young moms said to me, "this is the first 2 hours that I've had without my kids all week.". I could see how exhausted she was. At that moment I felt God confirm in me all over again. "Yes Karen, I want you to do this again, and again, and again."

I have to believe that God will make a way. I also have to realize, that way may not be easy. I will probably always have a hard time finding childcare, that doesn't mean that God is not in the middle of it all. It just means that I have to completely depend on Him and "roll with the punches". We can be quick to nix something God wants us to do. We think, if this is God ordained, it will be smooth and easy. I think that is rarely the case. I am a lot like Jonah, I throw my little temper tantrum. I want people to just line up to serve in nursery, I want them to enthusiastically call me on the phone and say "YES, I would LOVE to serve in this way." When it's tough and no one can help, I get angry, I whine, I say "forget it, this is my last one." Thanks be to God, he doesn't leave me alone! Sometimes he gives me a fish to rescue me, sometimes he gives me shade to take a rest. When I seek Him, I find Him - giving me everything I need to do it one more time, and one more time, and one more time...

Monkey on My Back

I was thinking that I wanted to change the name of this blog...but...I guess it still fits me well. Maybe I will put the effort into making this blog look fancy too.



So, I ran my second 5K as a 41 yr old (my first 5k I was 26). Since I turn 42 in less than a month, I guess that will be my record haha. BUT I still cannot complete the distance in less than 40min. I ran today it took 40:56. I may not have an opportunity to race before I turn 42, but I WILL run a 5k under 40 minutes before April 6th.